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Report: Trey Burke named in defamation lawsuit filed by Macomb County man

Trey Burke, Tim Frazier

Former Michigan star Trey Burke, seen here during an NBA Summer League game on July 12, was named in a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Macomb County Circuit Court seeking more than $25,000 in damages.
(David Becker | AP Photo)

ANN ARBOR -- While former Michigan star Trey Burke is spending this week working with the USA Basketball Select Team in Las Vegas, his name landed on a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Macomb County Circuit Court, according to a reports from the Detroit Free Press and myFOXDetroit.com.

Burke is being sued along with former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal and rapper Waka Flocka by Jahmel Binion of Warren for more than $25,000 in damages. The suit stems from O'Neal posting a picture of Binion on Instagram in late April and openly mocking his appearance.

The 23-year-old Binion, a Detroit native, suffers from a rare disorder known as ectodermal dysplasia. The disease produces abnormalities with the hair, teeth, nails, sweat glands and face, and prevents him from sweating.

Burke and Waka Flocka participated in the ridicule on the Instagram post, which was ultimately deleted by O'Neal.

All three later apologized on Twitter for the incident. Both Burke and Binion called and spoke to him directly.

According to the Free Press report, the lawsuit alleges invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, defamation and general negligence. It claims the “offensive communications” could be seen by more than 8.4 million people, including those in Macomb County.

Binion also claims, per the Free Press, that the public ridicule represented “extreme and outrageous conduct,” and caused him severe emotional distress.

Burke, a member of the Utah Jazz, is currently in Las Vegas with the USA Basketball Select Team that is practicing against the National Team. The Select Team is being used to help prepare the National for the upcoming 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

A former consensus national player of the year with the Wolverines, Burke averaged 12.8 points and 5.7 assists in his rookie season with the Jazz.

Soon after the Binion's story went viral after O'Neal's Instagram post, Binion shared his story in a MLive.com live chat session. Binnion spoke with the public in an effort to educate others about ectodermal dysplasia and spread awareness of his Facebook group "Hug Don't Judge," an anti-bullying campaign he started following the incident.

Brendan F. Quinn covers University of Michigan basketball and football. Follow him on Twitter for the latest on Wolverines hoops. He can be contacted at bquinn@mlive.com